Gabriel Obertan’s first goal for almost two years eased the pressure on manager Alan Pardew as Newcastle avoided their worst-ever start to a Premier League season thanks to a 1-0 victory over Leicester City at St James’ Park on Saturday.

The north-east club remained in the bottom three, but are only a point from safety as 53-year-old Pardew celebrated his 700th game in management with a much-needed win, their first in the league this season.

Obertan rounded off a length of the pitch move in the 71st minute sparked by Jack Colback, continued by Moussa Sissoko and sealed by the Frenchman’s first goal since October 2012 as the former Manchester United midfielder found the bottom corner from 18 yards to seal only a fifth league win this calendar year for the hosts.

It looked like being another frustrating afternoon for Pardew as Papiss Cisse spurned a clear opening shortly before Obertan’s telling strike.

The Senegal forward fired into the side-netting after latching onto a poor Paul Konchesky backpass to round keeper Kasper Schmeichel before running out of angle.

Leicester hit the woodwork before the break in a display that merited a point, but they were unable to respond to Obertan’s goal despite throwing on attacking substitutes Jamie Vardy and David Nugent early in the second half.